I admit that even though I am a native of Italy, I sometimes experience moments of culture shock when I return there. In many aspects, the life of Il Bel Paese is very different than the one I've grown accustomed to here in the States. This made me wonder how a first time visitor might react in certain situations, if even this native has moments of culture shock! The below is just a partial list of situations you might encounter during your trip to Italy.  These might leave you wondering what the Italians are thinking, or perhaps, wishing you could adopt the same methods here in the States! 

Personal Space: Italy’s version of personal space is much, shall we say, closer than what we appreciate here in the States. This takes some getting used to, even for me. When in line at the grocery store or at the cafes, don’t be too surprised to find the next customer practically on top of you. This is their norm, take no offense. Italians also aren’t shy about asking personal questions; more than once you might find yourself asking, “Did we not just meet?”